Emily In Paris is a rom-com series on Netflix about a young woman who finds herself moving to Paris for what is to be a one-year marketing job. Not knowing what to expect but excited for the adventure, she soon discovers that life is very different there.
While dealing with the differences between American and Parisian culture, a boss who doesn't want her there, and a language barrier, Emily still manages to excel at her career, make new friends, and even enjoy a bit of romance.
But amidst everything she does right in the first season, she makes some pretty big mistakes, too.
Moving To Paris Without First Discussing It With Her Boyfriend
The series begins when Emily finds herself presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: move to Paris temporarily to assist a company her marketing firm has just acquired in learning some of the American strategies for growing their brand.
She abruptly tells her long-time boyfriend, who seems on track to become fiancé, about the offer and that she has decided to go in one breath, believing that the long-distance thing will be no big deal. She made almost no effort to discuss the decision with him before making it in the first place. As an independent career woman, Emily can make those decisions for herself. But if she's serious about a relationship, he deserves to be part of the decision, and vice versa if the shoe was on the other foot.
Not Standing Up To Sylvie
Immediately upon arriving at her new office, Emily was met with disdain. Her new boss Sylvie did not want her there but had to agree to having someone work in the office to help out as a term of the acquisition.
Instead of standing up to Sylvie – Emily's company, after all, now owned hers – Emily bit her tongue far too often and let Sylvie walk all over her. She should have put her foot down earlier on, or at least reached out to her boss back home to ensure that Sylvie did not have such a sour attitude toward her.
Introducing The Corporate Commandments To The Paris Office
It was a big mistake to try and introduce a document called the Corporate Commandments to the Paris office, which has a very different culture than the one in the U.S. The co-workers' reactions were hilarious, involving drawing unmentionable body parts on a copy of them and leaving it on Emily's desk for some giggles.
While it wasn't her decision, Emily should have made it clear to her American boss that the culture there was very different and the Commandments probably wouldn't go over well.
Dating Thomas
Sure, Emily was lonely and felt out of place in Paris, despite her best efforts to fit in. And Thomas initially appeared to be a pretty nice guy. But as soon as she realized that he was a pompous, snobby jerk, she should have cut him loose.
Instead, she continued to sleep with him and even invited him to the ballet simply because she needed a plus one. She realized the mistake fairly quickly thereafter. Nonetheless, she was clearly blind to his arrogance for a day or two too long.
That Purse Charm
While the charm had a great story behind it, which ended up getting eccentric, old-school fashion designer Pierre Cadault on Emily's side eventually, wearing it to her first meeting with him was a mistake.
Cadault looked Emily up and down, and when he spotted the tacky accessory, he immediately declared her to be "ringarde" (i.e. "basic" or "boring") and demanded she and the team leave.
Accepting Lingerie From A Client
When Antoine sent Emily lingerie in an episode of this Netflix rom-com, she quickly hid the gift and lied about who it was from. She later told him it was inappropriate but then accepted his speech about how the gift was not meant for him but rather for her, to make her feel like a powerful and independent woman who was in control.
He made it pretty obvious from the get-go that he would likely sleep with her if she were to show interest. She should have had the gift sent back immediately with an appreciative note that expressed how she would like to keep their relationship completely professional and could not accept it.
Losing A Two Million Euro Watch
True, Emily only "lost" the watch for a few hours after the American rom-com actress Brooklyn Clark whom she had commissioned to wear it, disappeared to a dance club. But it was unprofessional for Emily to then party with Brooklyn instead of first fulfilling her obligation, which was grabbing the watch and returning it to the company rep.
Instead, Sylvie ended up arriving to rescue her and the situation and save the company from a massive PR nightmare, not to mention bill.
Giving In To Temptation With Gabriel
Of course, any fan of the show is rooting for Emily and Gabriel to get together. But the truth is that he had a girlfriend, even during the first time that he kissed Emily. Then, Emily unknowingly met and became friends with his girlfriend.
While it was tough for Emily and Gabriel to keep their hands off one another, if she really wanted to pursue Gabriel and he her, they should have both come clean with Camille from the get-go and pursued the relationship then. They would both have lost her but at least it would have prevented a likely very uncomfortable situation to come.
Getting Pierre Cadault To Donate A Dress
Emily was trying to do a good thing when she asked Pierre Cadault's nephew Mathieu to donate a dress to the American Friends of the Louvre for a charity event. But he decided to agree, likely partly due to his personal feelings for Emily.
The whole move backfired as a pair of up-and-coming Millennial fashion designers bid on and won the dress then proceeded to destroy it as part of a publicity stunt for their own brand. Emily did manage to get things back on track. But it led to Cadault canceling his show and falling into a deep depression first.
Sleeping With Camille's Brother
Even viewers believed that Timothee was the brother Camille kept mentioning she wanted Emily to meet. So, it makes sense that Emily would recognize his rugged good lucks and adorable charm and go for it. After a ridiculous amount of the family's champagne, Emily even went so far as to sleep with him.
Except at breakfast the next morning, she discovered that he was not the brother Camille was talking about at all. In fact, he was her younger, 17-year-old brother! Not surprisingly, Emily was mortified, even if the family seemed to find it more funny than shocking.